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on her couch。 When Falconer was presented to her； he took her hand；
and held it for a moment。 A kind of indescribable beam broke over
his face； as if his spirit smiled and the smile shone through
without moving one of his features as it passed。 The tears stood in
his eyes。 To understand all this look； one would need to know his
history as I do。 He laid her hand gently on her bosom； and said：
〃God bless you！〃
Euphra felt that God did bless her in the very words。 She had been
looking at Falconer all the time。 It was only fifteen seconds or
so； but the outcome of a life was crowded into Falconer's side of
it； and the confidence of Euphra rose to meet the faithfulness of a
man of God。What words those are！A man of God！ Have I not
written a revelation？ Yesto him who can read ityes。
〃I know enough of your story； Miss Cameron；〃 he said； 〃to understand
without any preface what you choose to tell me。〃
Euphra began at once：
〃I dreamed last night that I found myself outside the street door。
I did not know where I was going； but my feet seemed to know。 They
carried me； round two or three corners； into a wide； long street；
which I think was Oxford…street。 They carried me on into London；
far beyond any quarter I knew。 All I can tell further is； that I
turned to the left beside a church； on the steeple of which stood
what I took for a wandering ghost just lighted there；only I ought
to tell you； that frequently in my dreamsalways in my peculiar
dreamsthe more material and solid and ordinary things are； the
more thin and ghostly they appear to me。 Then I went on and on；
turning left and right too many times for me to remember； till at
last I came to a little； old…fashioned court； with two or three
trees in it。 I had to go up a few steps to enter it。 I was not
afraid； because I knew I was dreaming； and that my body was not
there。 It is a great relief to feel that sometimes； for it is often
very much in the way。 I opened a door； upon which the moon shone
very bright； and walked up two flights of stairs into a back room。
And there I found him； doing something at a table by candlelight。
He had a sheet of paper before him； but what he was doing with it；
I could not see。 I tried hard； but it was of no use。 The dream
suddenly faded； and I awoke； and found Margaret。Then I knew I was
safe；〃 she added； with a loving glance at her maid。
Falconer rose。
〃I know the place you mean perfectly；〃 he said。 〃It is too peculiar
to be mistaken。 Last night； let me see； how did the moon
shine？Yes。 I shall be able to tell the very door； I think； or
almost。〃
〃How kind of you not to laugh at me！〃
〃I might make a fool of myself if I laughed at any one。 So I
generally avoid it。 We may as well get the good out of what we do
not understandor at least try if there be any in it。 Will you
come； Sutherland？〃
Hugh rose； and took his leave with Falconer。
〃How pleased she seemed with you； Falconer！〃 said he； as they left
the house。
〃Yes； she touched me。〃
〃Won't you go and see her again？〃
〃No； there is no need； except she sends for me。〃
〃It would please hercomfort her； I am sure。〃
〃She has got one of God's angels beside her； Sutherland。 She
doesn't want me。〃
〃What do you mean？〃
〃I mean that maid of hers。〃
A pangof jealousy； was it？shot through Hugh's heart。 How could
he seewhat right had he to see anything in Margaret？
Hugh might have kept himself at peace； even if he had loved Margaret
as much as she deserved； which would have been about ten times as
much as he did。 Is a man not to recognize an angel when he sees
her； and to call her by her name？ Had Hugh seen into the core of
that grand heartwhat form sat there； and howhe would have been
at peacewould almost have fallen down to do the man homage。 He
was silent。
〃My dear fellow！〃 said Falconer； as if he divined his feelingfor
Falconer's power over men and women came all from sympathy with
their spirits； and not their nerves〃if you have any hold of that
woman； do not lose it； for as sure as there's a sun in heaven； she
is one of the winged ones。 Don't I know a woman when I see her！〃
He sighed with a kind of involuntary sigh； which yet did not seek to
hide itself from Hugh。
〃My dear boy；〃 he added； laying a stress on the word； 〃I am nearly
twice your agedon't be jealous of me。〃
〃Mr。 Falconer；〃 said Hugh humbly； 〃forgive me。 The feeling was
involuntary； and if you have detected in it more than I was aware
of； you are at least as likely to be right as I am。 But you cannot
think more highly of Margaret than I do。〃
And yet Hugh did not know half the good of her then； that the reader
does now。
〃Well； we had better part now； and meet again at night。〃
〃What time shall I come to you？〃
〃Oh！ about nine I think will do。〃
So Hugh went home； and tried to turn his thoughts to his story； but
Euphra； Falconer； Funkelstein； and Margaret persisted in sitting to
him； the one after the other； instead of the heroes and heroines of
his tale。 He was compelled to lay it aside； and betake himself to a
stroll and a pipe。
As he went down stairs； he met Miss Talbot。
〃You're soon tired of home； Mr。 Sutherland。 You haven't been in
above half an hour； and you're out again already。〃
〃Why； you see； Miss Talbot； I want a pipe very much。〃
〃Well； you ain't going to the public house to smoke it； are you？〃
〃No；〃 answered Hugh laughing。 〃But you know； Miss Talbot； you made
it part of the agreement that I shouldn't smoke indoors。 So I'm
going to smoke in the street。〃
〃Now； think of being taken that way！〃 retorted Miss Talbot； with an
injured air。 〃Why； that was before I knew anything about you。 Go up
stairs directly； and smoke your pipe； and when the room can't hold
any more； you can open the windows。 Your smoke won't do any harm；
Mr。 Sutherland。 But I'm very sorry you quarrelled with Mrs。
Appleditch。 She's a hard woman； and over fond of her money and her
drawing…room； and for those boys of hersthe Lord have mercy on
them； for she has none！ But she's a true Christian for all that；
and does a power of good among the poor people。〃
〃What does she give them； Miss Talbot？〃
〃Oh！she gives themhm…mtracts and things。 You know；〃 she
added； perceiving the weakness of her position； 〃people's souls
should come first。 And poor Mrs。 Appleditchyou seesome folks is
made stickier than others； and their money sticks to them； somehow；
that they can't part with itpoor woman！〃
To this Hugh had no answer at hand； for though Miss Talbot's logic
was more than questionable； her charity was perfectly sound； and
Hugh felt that he had not been forbearing enough with the mother of
the future pastors。 So he went back to his room； lighted his pipe；
and smoked till he fell asleep over a small volume of morbid modern
divinity； which Miss Talbot had lent him。 I do not mention the name
of the book； lest some of my acquaintance should abuse me； and
others it； more than either deserves。 Hugh； however； found the best
refuge from the diseased self…consciousness which it endeavoured to
rouse； and which is a kind of spiritual somnambulism； in an hour of
God's good sleep； into a me